Team Spirit are your IEM Cologne 2025 champions, back on top in their first event since benching magixx for zweih. In the end, though, it was donk who made all the difference as the Russian prodigy led the way, as he so often does.
MOUZ powerless as donk dominates IEM Cologne 2025 Final
There are those who will tell you donk isn’t the best Counter-Strike player in the world, with ZywOo picking up MVP awards left, right, and center. To those, I say: you’re wrong, and this performance in the IEM Cologne 2025 Grand Final proves it. He’s a monster, a phenom, a robot designed to play perfect Counter-Strike. It’s not worth the hate – enjoy it. You’re watching one of the greatest players to ever touch the game, and it’s not too early to say that.
Here, MOUZ were left shellshocked on map one, as Spirit romped to a quick victory. This was more of a team effort all around, even as donk topped the scoreboards. It was map two that really broke MOUZ, though. A 11:5 lead, all set to tie up the series, with sh1ro underperforming for Spirit. The stage was set for an equal map two. Things were not quite this simple, with Spirit hosting an inspired comeback with eight consecutive rounds to take the map. It established what proved to be an insurmountable lead for Spirit.
MOUZ broken by map two comeback in IEM Cologne Final
That 11:5 comeback reverberated throughout the final map of the series. Despite a bright start to Nuke for MOUZ, mentally, they were broken. Eventually, Spirit were able to take control of the map, running away with it to take it 13:6. No fake comeback to be seen. Spirit got the job done cleanly.
If MOUZ were able to take that map two, who knows what would have happened. However, there are only regrets for MOUZ. Elation for Spirit. A third trophy of the year, and a crowning moment for one of the best talents to ever touch the game.
